Hair Do Me Good

Have you ever had one of those haircuts that is actually more than just a haircut, it’s a whole life-coaching session and dare I say it, life-changing? That is how I felt having been lucky enough to secure an appointment with the beautifully-named Cher at the Aveda Centre in London.
All wild-hair and straight-talking, Cher put me straight in no time. “Yes,” she says wisely, like she can instantly see through all my problems, “I see what you are trying to do here.” She is running her fingers through my poor, limp hair and says, “You’re trying to grow your hair, aren’t you? But your hair is having none of it. You are trying to make it do what it doesn’t want to do.” I was shocked! This is sure breaching the hairdresser-client etiquette guidelines? But it was definitely food for thought. It made me think that maybe I should accept that I might never get past the shoulder length hair I have had for a good few years now. And it also made me think what (or who) else I was making do things that are clearly never going to happen. Wise words indeed.
Either way, Cher’s intuition proved spot on and I had the best haircut I have ever had in my life. My hair also somehow smelt amazing for days, which never normally happens. A pricey indulgence, but oh so worth it. And if this is how good it looks now, I will be happy with shoulder-length hair forever.
All about Aveda

Fabulous Skincare...

If only all beauty boutiques were like Aesop. The gorgeous little shops are like mini apothecaries, lined with brown bottles all waiting for you to take them home. How can anyone resist?
Last weekend, I visited one. And I didn't resist.
It's the little touches that impress. The Victorian sink where you can try any of the cleansers and scrubs. The beautiful displays of all the products. And the helpful service where the consultants are never too greedy to give away their samples! One Fabulous Face Cleanser later, I was skipping home with a beautiful little linen bag filled with sumptuous samples and the said cleanser. The cleanser in question is of he gel variety, smells devine thanks to Bergamot rind, Chamomile Bud and Rosemary Leaf which make up its core ingredients. It is specially formulated for sensitive skin and it has made mine feel super soft and hydrated. Though, it's so gentle, bless it, I need something tougher to remove makeup. Needless to say, I can hardly wait until my next visit... Fabulous Face Cleanser, £27 for 200ml

Sports Mask

Having read recently that doing exercise, albeit in mammoth proportions, (compared to my weekly (ok, monthly) attempts) can dry out the skin, I thought I could conduct an experiment. This morning, I decided to embark on a jog. But before I did, I steamed my face, added my favourite Origins Drink Up 10-minute moisture mask - but instead if rinsing after ten minutes, I wiped off some of the excess and went running with and residuals. I am calling it my 'sports mask'.
Following my jog and shower, I emerged with baby soft skin. Et voila. I will definitely be trying this experiment again (that includes the exercising part too).
Origins 10 Minute Drink Up Mask £17.00

Fragrant mood...

Today, I as I rode on a train through yet another rainstorm back from Manchester to London, I actually started looking forward to winter for the first time.
Something that helped me on my way was my discovery of a deliciously dark and romantic perfume that I sought out in Manchester.

I am talking about a new range from new-kid-on-the-block perfumer Killian. Exclusive to Harvey Nichols only this Autumn, I had a sneaky peek at the new collection and was immediately transfixed by each, every and all fragrances in the collection. My favourite though, was ‘Back to Black, an opulent, rich, velvety scent that reminded me of my grandmother’s homemade wild cherry conserve mixed with rum. It has actually been designed as an aphrodisiac with undertones of honey. I’ll vouch for the aphrodisiac part.

The man behind the brand, Killian Hennesy (heir to the cognac fortune) believes in ‘Perfume as a messenger to open a thousand doors in memory.” All I know if that even the next day, I felt bleary-eyed with each accidental whiff of the perfume from the night before.

Mister Mascara

I have decided that mascaras are like men and basically fall in to two main categories.

The first is the mascara that gives you big love and big lashes. This is the one that comes all guns blazing, makes your eyes look about ten times bigger than they are and you wonder how you ever lived without this product or have ever been happy with any other mascara before. This is the equivalent of the rough and ready bad-boy man who is as addictive as he is cocky. Much like this mascara that just screams 'I-know-I'm-your-beauty-golden-ticket-baby'. For some reason, this mascara also finishes quicker than any other mascara you've ever used too, perhaps because of the ferocious new style of application that it begs for. But, one day, you'll wake up and find it has run out and run dry, much like that type of man who has also always 'runs out'. And then, the worst thing, is you'll find it has also been discontinued and the search for the best mascara is resurrected.

Then, the other type of mascara is a kind and gentle sort. It will not change your world, but it does look after your lashes, gently coating each one for understated definition. Like that lovely geek in your social circle, or at school or at work who you know will treat you right. But, for some reason, like this type of man, you can never remain faithful to this type of mascara and will always keep searching for that golden-ticket mascara that will give you the big lashes you once had on the side.

From left:
Givenchy, Phenomen'eyes, £19.50 (Baaaad-boy)
Estee Lauder, Double-Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara, £17.50 (Kind and Sweet)
bareMinerals, Flawless Definition Volumising, £15.00 (Playa-bad and bargainlicious)
bareMinerals, Flaless Definition, £15.00 (Couldn't be nicer if it tried and infused with minerals!)

New Yorker (Honourary...)

Recently, I have really been paying attention to my nails. Reading a novel by a New Yorker and reading several articles about New York's powerful women, plus my all-round obsession with New York in general has led me to be much more careful about my grooming habits, but namely my nails in particular. I wonder what New York would have made of my blue, leopard-print, diamante-encrusted nails courtesy of WAH nails? Am I too sexy for New York? Or am I simply too 'badass' as WAH Nails' slogan suggests?

http://wah-nails.com/

Cool for Cats

So yesterday evening, I spent the most fascinating time in the most fascinating place, learning about the most fascinating product. The Powder Puff Girls boutique in Marshall street was celebrating the launch of Paul and Jo's new makeup collection. What a delight that was. I felt like i had been transported in to a parallel retro universe where they served me pink champagne in equally pink-flower decorated tea-cups and saucers and my where my makeup was applied by the most beautifully porcelain-skinned living-doll of a makeup artist that has ever walked the streets of Soho.
As if that wasn't delightful enough, I also found out that the designer of Paul and Joe is just as inspired and obsessed about cats as I am. (My friends recently bought me a porcelain cat as a consolation prize for not having a real one on my birthday). Paul and Joe's new lipstick bullets are shaped like cat heads. I entertained myself for ages playing hide and seek with its little pointy-eared head. My friend who brought me probably thought I was nuts.

Either way, Paul and Joe's makeup, which has so far eluded my attention really grabbed me. Pretty palletes with some of the sparkliest gold an silver shades in all this land and some gorgeous-smelling skincare made with love (and Japanese know-how). Beautiful.

http://boutique.thepowderpuffgirls.com/services.html